Major honour for FARE

FARE, the Football against Racism in Europe network, has received another award acknowledging its efforts in the fight against racism.

High praise
The organisation has been honoured with the first Jean Kahn Award for exemplary work to combat racism. The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), a European Union body based in Vienna and sponsored by the Evens Foundation, made the presentation in recognition of an outstanding contribution to combating racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

Baffoe present
The Jean Kahn Award jury was particularly impressed by FARE's innovative work in football, which includes raising awareness and educational activities at grassroots and European level. At the award ceremony in Vienna, Anthony Baffoe, the former Ghana and Bundesliga player turned television presenter, accepted the award on behalf of FARE.

Work to do
Highlighting his own experiences as a player in Germany, France, Venezuela and Hong Kong, Baffoe said: "If an organisation like FARE had existed in the 1980s, it would have been much easier for me and other black players at the time." He added that many footballers still found it hard to speak out against racism in public, because they feared the reaction of fans and coaches.

Keep going
The patron of the award, Jean Kahn, called for a continuation of the fight against any form of racism, xenophobia and exclusion. She said: "This fight will never end, when one form of racism disappears, the next form will arise."

Financial prize
Bob Purkiss, EUMC chairman, presented the award and also handed over a cheque for €10,000 to FARE. He said: "Recent high-profile incidents whether at the international or national level only serve to remind us of how much we still have to do. I am confident that FARE as a European network with a variety of contacts among the key players will ensure that this issue is tackled effectively."

Year-round effort
FARE, as a fan-oriented network of more than 70 supporter clubs, anti-racist initiatives and migrant and ethnic minority organisations from 18 European countries, undertakes activities in campaigning and awareness raising, such as the annual FARE Action Week, which this year saw more than 300 events in 24 countries.